Description

JOB TITLE: Policy Specialist
PROGRAM: Center for Legislative Strengthening
LOCATION: Denver-Hybrid
SALARY: $70,388 annually
STATUS: Full-time
ABOUT NCSL:
Are you ready to join an organization with an extraordinary mission? The National Conference of State Legislatures offers careers where you can use your skills, knowledge, and experience to truly make a difference. NCSL’s mission is purposeful – strengthening the legislative institution. From informing effective policies and promoting communication among state legislatures, to ensuring states have a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system, our team works in service of legislatures. And, with a commitment to constantly innovating all resources and services to meet the evolving needs of members, NCSL has earned the reputation as the nation’s most trusted bipartisan membership organization for legislators and legislative staff. Our success serving NCSL members relies on our team of passionate, dedicated professionals who work diligently to strengthen the legislative institution. Join our team and contribute to this unique, essential mission. NCSL has a flexible remote work policy. Building and maintaining our organizational culture is critical and we do so by bringing staff together, in person, for four days each month. The remote work policy provides the freedom to work from anywhere with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development. 
ABOUT THE ROLE:
NCSL’s Center for Legislative Strengthening (CLS) is seeking a policy specialist. CLS is a highly collaborative, flexible, nonpartisan, five-person team responsible for much of NCSL’s research, analysis and consulting on the operations, functions, and duties required of the legislative institution. The Center is looking for a team member with a demonstrated passion for NCSL's mission to strengthen state legislatures and the abilities and skills necessary to develop expertise in aspects of legislative operations and build relationships and networks of state legislators and legislative staff. This position reports to the director of the Center for Legislative Strengthening.A CLS policy specialist is responsible for researching, analyzing, maintaining, and developing expertise in NCSL’s information on state legislators and aspects of legislative operations. The position conducts legislative and policy tracking; deploys and analyzes surveys; translates detailed and complex information via verbal presentations, publications, technical assistance workshops, webinars, and meetings; creates substantive, engaging, and interactive presentations for legislators, legislative staff, and others on legislative topics and responds to questions; and prepares concise, accurate, and nonpartisan written products for a variety of purposes and audiences. The policy specialist may assist with the development of new projects and resources in assigned subject areas, including assisting with research papers, and may assist with funder relations and project deliverables, under the direction of the director of CLS.
NCSL seeks a professional who can demonstrate knowledge of and success working with, or within, the public sector, with preference toward candidates possessing legislative experience. Finally, a passion for NCSL's mission to strengthen state legislatures is essential.WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Develops subject matter expertise on legislator and legislative operations issues. Collects, tracks, and analyzes legislative data. Interprets and identifies policy implications and trends. Develops comparative 50-state and legislative chamber data sets. Maintains resources on NCSL webpages.
• Conducts research on federal, state, and local actions and academic studies that impact the work and operations of legislatures, including executive and administrative actions, relevant case law or judicial interpretations, intergovernmental actions, and academic journals.
• Provides information and excellent customer service to legislators and legislative staff through nonpartisan, balanced research, publications, and presentations on assigned topics. Develops and maintains effective relations with key legislators and legislative staff as needed.
• Prepares concise, accurate, and nonpartisan written products for a variety of purposes and audiences including communications with members (email, memos), reports, webpages, articles, blogs, and others as needed. Participates in peer review editing of colleagues’ work as needed.
• Plans educational sessions and assists with overall planning for larger meetings with supervisor oversight. Creates substantive, engaging, and interactive presentations for legislators, legislative staff, and others on issues portfolio with the ability to respond to questions. Contributes to other session and meeting planning tasks, such as speaker identification, agenda development, and on-site support.
• May assist with funder relations or technical assistance projects and completes high-quality, timely assigned project deliverables, under the direction of the CLS director.
• Travels domestically for meetings, technical assistance, and other project activities as needed.
• Performs other responsibilities as needed.

SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE:
Supervisor/Management Responsibilities:

• May oversee one intern or serve as coordinator of a team of other professionals on a short-term project. 

THE WORK ENVIRONMENT: This full-time position is mostly performed in an office environment, on or off-site, with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. NCSL provides a unique hybrid remote work policy with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development. Employees routinely use standard office equipment such as laptops, printers, scanners, copy machines, and smartphones. Occasional travel by airplane, including overnights and weekends, is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCCESS:
Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree plus four years of work experience with state legislatures, government, public policy or other relevant field.
• Knowledge relevant to assigned area.
• Proficient writing and presentation skills and the ability to clearly and credibly and communicate information to a variety of audiences.
• Aptitude for working both collaboratively with others and independently.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with legislators, legislative staff, national experts, funders, and others, under the guidance or mentorship of supervisor(s).
• Ability to work in a politically neutral manner and maintain confidentiality when required.
• Strong research and analysis skills, including accessing and assessing a variety of resources and research; synthesizing data and legislation; and analyzing and summarizing policy options and legislative activities.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines under the guidance of supervisor(s). Ability to work under deadline pressure and adapt to changes in workload.
• Proficient knowledge of state legislative and political processes and the separation of power between the branches of government.
• Ability to travel by air up to 6 times per year, with most trips being 1-3 nights, as well as work extended hours, possibly evenings and weekends, usually associated with events/travel.

YOUR BENEFITS AT A GLANCE:
NCSL has a flexible remote work policy. Building and maintaining our organizational culture is critical and we do so by bringing staff together, in person, for four days each month. The remote work policy provides the freedom to work from anywhere with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development. We are committed to offering a full range of other benefits for you and your eligible family members, including domestic partners.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Our outstanding benefits include low-cost health, dental and vision coverage, a 401(a)-retirement plan with 10% contribution after 6 months and full vesting, life & disability insurance, 3-weeks paid vacation with 5 years of paid full-time work experience, generous time off plans and paid family leave, floating holidays, identity theft protection, employee assistance programs, pet insurance, paid time off to volunteer, and more! Relocation assistance provided for out-of-state candidates.
HOW TO JOIN OUR TEAM:
If you are a purpose-driven, dedicated professional looking to give as much as you get – submit your resume and cover letter by 11:59 PM MT, November 30^th, 2023 for best consideration.Learn more about working with NCSL by visiting our careers page: https://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/ncsl-careers.aspx. We are looking forward to receiving your application!
NCSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to developing a diverse, dynamic team and inclusive workplace. NCSL does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation.